Scarecrow Festival

We, as in the Galloping Goat Gallery, are hosting a Scarecrow festival Saturday September 29th 10 am to 4pm (raindate Sunday the 30th, we are praying for no rain that day!) here on this lawn as a fundraising event for Picton's Regent Theatre. I came up with the idea and took it to the Regent's Board of Directors with big plans and ideas and they jumped right into it! Now we have Picton's Main Street businesses offering support by dressing their windows and making scarecrows that they will auction off with all proceeds going to the Regent.

Along with that we have County Cider donating (alcohol-free) cider and the County Farm Depot donating hotdogs and (hopefully one of out other local businesses will offer condiments and buns!) we'll have drinks available for sale. We are going to also have a "Make Your Own Scarecrow" area that people will come and purchase what amounts to a kit and with the help of some volunteers they will create an original scarecrow for their garden or porch. Thanks to Evans Lumber who has already offered to make and donate all the wood crosses for the scarecrows. I know that someone is donating the pumpkins so we just need some clothes, a few bales of straw and a large ball of twine to tie sleeves and legs closed. Hopefully the other fundraising committee volunteers will find those items for us. If someone is reading this that can offer us some help or items email me!!

I've also been on the phone asking local businesses to make a scarecrow that we can have at the Galloping Goat that day to sell to people that don't want to do the "make your own" version. So far I have only got a few people agreeing to make them but I'm hoping that will get better. It's always tough the first year trying to do these kinds of things. We have big plans to make it an annual event. Wouldn't it be great if it became a really big thing where each fall the entire County has all it's residents sticking fun and funky scarecrows on their lawns! Then the County would be this place to visit in the fall to see the fall colours, buy harvested veggies, do some wine tasting and do a drive to see all the scarecrows! Sort of like those drives I used to go on when I was a kid to see all the Christmas lights at people's houses. Kids love that kind of thing so it will hopefully draw families here after it's too chilly to go to the Sandbanks.

For those that are wondering why the Regent needs money basically it's this gorgeous old original theatre from the 1800's that is run largely by volunteers. There is a crushing debt against the place and the community banded together to save it and keep it open and running and trying to find ways to dig out of the debt and have it support itself from the revenue it brings in. It's been struggling along for years but needs a boost to keep it going. The new general manager that has been hired, Sharon, will be a great infuser of energy and vitality into the Regent. I've met her at the Board meeting and she is full of energy and ideas and best of all, experience in theatre. I think the Regent should make some real head way with Sharon at the wheel.

If you ever visit Picton Ontario you have to make a point of stopping in to see it. All the architectual details are original and the old marquee lights on the front set up a gorgeous view in the evenings. It has been classed as a historical building so it is well worth visiting. The Regent hosts todays movies at very reasonable prices along with live theatre on the stage.

Tim and I went to see the production of Elizabeth Rex and we were both completely enthralled with the play and felt it certainly was up to Stratford festival standards with the costumes, sets and acting skills of the players. There are also live music events and a constant stream of talent through those old doors.

Don't miss the opportunity of visitign the Regent Theatre on you visit to "The County" as it is fondly called (otherwise know as Prince Edward County) and buy a ticket to a show and help support our community's historical icon. Come and see us at the Scarecrow Festival September 29th at 906 County Road 13, right across from the Black River Cheese Factory, just follow the road signs to the cheese and you'll also find the Galloping Goat!